Lady Elinor’s Daring Masquerade #FirstKissFriday #ReadaRegency #99cents

Lady Elinor's Escape graphicMy Regency romance, Lady Elinor’s Escape, is a twist on the Cinderella story, which means there has to be a ballroom scene. In this case, Elinor has gone in disguise as Cinderella. Of course, the hero is there, too, dressed as William Shakespeare. Safely masked, she cannot resist flirting with him.

Here’s an excerpt:

“Would you like to dance, mademoiselle?” Stephen asked.

She bit her lip in hesitation. “But I do not know how to waltz.”

His brows rose in surprise. “You have been tied to the hearth. However, all you need do is follow my lead. Shall we?”

Avec plaisir.” She allowed him to take her hand and lead her onto the floor. Her heart raced at the intimate feel of his hand at the small of her back. At first, he talked her through the steps, but after a few moments, she relaxed and gave herself up to the music and the pleasure of being twirled around the floor by the gentleman of her dreams.

He drew her far closer than was proper, but she didn’t resist. “Ah, mademoiselle, how am I to resist you?”

She smiled at him. “But, monsieur, you are not supposed to. For tonight, you are the handsome prince and you are required to fall in love with me.”

Woman in gold maskWhen the waltz ended, Stephen procured two more glasses of champagne. Elinor sipped it, letting the liquid cool her parched throat. Then, she let Stephen lead her downstairs and out into the moonlit garden for a breath of air. Her head was spinning, though whether from the champagne or the twirling motion of the dance, she did not know. She only knew she was behaving very badly tonight, drinking champagne, daring to dance the wicked waltz, and now this. Without the mask and costume, she would never have dared to act so. He must think her very fast, indeed.

They strolled along a path lined with rose bushes and stopped to drink in the fragrance scenting the air. The cool night air helped to clear her head, but made her shiver. Or was that caused by the warm look Stephen sent her way?

He ran a finger from her ear to her chin. “Will you remove your mask for me, Cendrillon? I long to know you better.”

Mais non, monsieur. It is forbidden.”

“Will you at least tell me your name?”

She smiled. He was her dear, inquisitive Stephen, but she had to find a way to avoid the question. She glanced around the garden and a line from Romeo and Juliet came to mind.

“My name is not important, monsieur. Was it not you who said, ‘What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.’”

He broke into laughter. “Hoisted by my own petard, I see. You are a clever minx.” He leaned closer to her. “Is a kiss forbidden also?”

The word non was on her lips, when she thought, why not? Had she not wanted him to kiss her at Hampstead? This might be her only opportunity to find out what it would be like to be kissed by him. “A kiss would be allowed,” she said, shocked at her own daring.

His mouth brushed hers, the mustache tickling a little. She let out a nervous giggle.

He drew back. “Do you find my kiss amusing?”

She touched his lips in apology. “No, but your mustache, it tickles me. It is not unpleasant, however.” In truth, it had been her very first kiss, but she doubted he would believe that after the way she was behaving tonight.

“Then perhaps we should try again.”

He drew her closer and she lifted her arms to his shoulders. Once more his mouth touched hers, more demanding this time. When she tentatively returned his kiss, he pulled her even closer until her breasts were crushed against his chest. Her heart pounded in rhythm with the music and her head spun as if they were still whirling around the dance floor.

Lady Elinors Escape coverA mysterious lady. An inquisitive gentleman. And a secret that could tear them apart.

Lady Elinor should be in London enjoying the season, not fearful and trapped in a country cottage with an unbalanced relative. When her aunt becomes violent, she flees straight into the path of a compassionate barrister. Desperate, she accepts his help, but will she be able to hide the truth from this inquisitive, intelligent man?

There are too many women in barrister Stephen Chaplin’s life, but he has never been able to turn his back on a woman in need. The reticent seamstress resists his every attempt to draw her out and remains a mystery he can’t solve.

Then a Bow Street Runner hired by her aunt comes asking questions. Elinor again turns to Stephen for help. But when circumstances reveal the truth about her background, will Stephen and Elinor lose their chance at happiness?

Lady Elinor’s escape is a Cinderella-inspired traditional Regency romance. If you like noble gentlemen, independent ladies and sweet romance, this book is for you!

Best of all, Lady Elinor’s Escape is on a Kindle Countdown sale for 99 cents at Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk through June 15th! Or read free on Kindle Unlimited.

Linda

Accused of Spying: Lady Elinor’s Escape #RegencyRomance #MFRWHooks #99cents

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Welcome to MFRW Book Hooks, sponsored by Marketing for Romance Authors.

Today’s hook is from Chapter One of my sweet Regency romance, Lady Elinor’s Escape, currently on a 99-cent Amazon Kindle Countdown Deal in the US and UK. (Apologies to readers in other countries. Those are the only two places where I can do the Kindle Countdown deals.)

Jan. Kindle Countdown Deal

Today’s snippet is from Chapter 1 of the book and will give some idea of why Elinor needed to escape. For those not familiar with Regency London, Newgate was a notorious prison.

Chapter 1

She might as well be in Newgate.

Lady Elinor Ashworth stared out the window of her bedchamber at acres of farmland sprouting new growth. Spring green brightened the vista, taunting her with the promise of freedom. After three long, lonely months trapped in this cottage, her spirit cried out for something more, something she could not name.

She glanced at the sketchbook in her lap. She had intended to draw the pastoral scene outside her window, but her hand had sketched a young lady forlornly staring through the panes of a window. A truer self-portrait had never been drawn.

Until the last few months, she had been allowed to wander alone through the Wiltshire countryside, but no longer. Not since Aunt Sarah came out of her melancholy and turned into a raving madwoman.

All her life Elinor had dreamed of adventure, so what she was planning to do should not daunt her in the slightest. She had read about people braving the ocean in small boats, exploring the jungles of Africa, searching for ancient artifacts in Egypt.

In contrast, stealing out of her aunt’s house in the dark, walking to the nearest coaching inn and traveling by herself to London hardly qualified as an adventure. The merest of escapades, in fact. Or so she assured herself to calm the butterflies suddenly dancing in her stomach. Still, what other choice did she have?

But it all depended on Mimi’s assistance.

Jumping up, she paced her small bedroom, eight steps forward, eight steps back, noting that the carpeting had begun to show the wear and tear of her impatience, a well-worn trail that led nowhere. Her immediate problem was finding a way to mail the letter to Mimi without her aunt knowing about it. In the past she’d been allowed to walk to the nearby village of Lacock, but lately…

With a sigh, she sat behind her small desk and skimmed the letter she’d just written in decent, if not fluent, French.

Beechwood Cottage, Wiltshire

April 29, 1812

Dear Mimi,

I have quite made up my mind to come to London and hope I may stay with you for a while. I would not ask except there is no one else upon whom I may impose. It will be only for a short time, just until I can find a way to join my father in Portugal.

I have not heard from him in several months and fear our letters are being intercepted by my Aunt Sarah, whose behavior has become quite unpredictable. She has come out of the deep melancholy she suffered after dear Uncle Thomas’s death, but she is often not herself. She sees French spies around every turn of a country lane, and of late, has begun accusing me of spying for Napoleon.

That is not the whole story, but I will explain more when I see you. Dear friend, do say I may stay with you. I eagerly await your answer.

Warmly,

Your little Ellie

Elinor folded her letter and had just picked up the sealing wax when her aunt burst into the room. Her graying hair had escaped from its bun and there was a wild look in her blue eyes. Oh, no, it was one of those days.

Before Elinor could stand, her aunt strode to the desk and towered over her.

“There you are, missy. I’ve been looking for you. What is that?” She snatched the letter from Elinor’s hand and looked at it. “Ah, ha! This is the proof I’ve been waiting for.”

Elinor’s heart thumped madly. “What are you talking about, Aunt Sarah? Proof of what?”

“Spying. Here it is, writ in your own hand.”

Grab your copy while it’s on sale in the US and UK: at Amazon.com and Amazon UK

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Linda